Kris Padget

I have always loved comics. As a kid I was enthralled by the bright colors, animated pictures, and constantly progressing storylines. However, I was not a child who owned a whole stack of comic books, be they Marvel, DC, or Archie. Even at a young age I was too frugal and “clutter conscious” to be buying new flimsy, paper leaflets each week/month/etc. As I’ve grown, my aversion to owning more ‘things’ has worsened and, due to inaccessibility, the frequency of comic reading in my life diminished. You can’t read comics if you don’t buy comics. Only recently (in the last 5-ish years) have I jumped back on the bandwagon; this is thanks to Marvel Unlimited, the perfect platform for a reader with an empty wallet & tight space. Which leads me to one important question: Where is the DC version of Marvel Unlimited?

I’m going to start with a caveat: I’ve never been a collector. I understand that many people buy comics for more than just reading. They put them in plastic sheaths and store them in climate-controlled rooms, waiting for them to increase in value (or simply for the buyer to want to reread a favourite issue). That is all well and good, but it’s not for me. I buy whole-heartedly in to the motto of “less is more” when it comes to physical possessions. Perhaps it’s my fear of commitment shining through; I like the idea of having so few things that I could pack up and go at any moment. But this post is not a rant on consumerism or how we need to own less & experience more… nope, this post is supposed to be a rant about the inaccessibility of DC comics to the budget-conscious, online reader.

Before I lament there being no DC version of Marvel Unlimited perhaps I should explain what Marvel Unlimited is. Marvel Unlimited is a mobile app/online site that operates as Marvel’s digital library. For a monthly or annual fee ($9.99/month or $69/year) the subscriber has access to over 15,000 old & new issues of Marvel comics, right there on your computer (or phone or tablet). They are conveniently organized by character, series, or event, allowing you to find what you’re looking for or discover something new. I just reread AvX in its entirety (including all of the official and unofficial tie-ins), all in one well-organized location… without having to buy anything! In the course of perusing this event I took a break to read the whole run of Avengers Academy, a series I thoroughly enjoyed but never would have paid for. As someone who likes to know the WHOLE story, including whatever is going on in the subtly connected, C-rate hero’s side plot, I am enamored with the idea of having everything at my fingertips without having to worry about the charges building up on my credit card. If I sound like a commercial it is because I cannot recommend this subscription enough (I swear I’m not even being sponsored to do this post).

Of course, Marvel Unlimited has its shortfalls. I am told that there are still significant holes in its classic comic collection. This hasn’t affected me yet, as I am first trying to catch up on present day (and by present day I mean 2008) storylines before delving into the far past. And it’s at least 6 months behind current issues. Like I said, I’m still back a few years so this hasn’t been a problem for me yet but if you are concerned about knowing what is happening right now in the Marvel Universe, Marvel Unlimited will not help you with that.

But this is not a Marvel Unlimited Review (you just got that as a bonus ?). I repeat, this a rant about there not being a DC version of Marvel Unlimited.

I am a self-proclaimed Marvel girl. I like the lighter tone. But I still love a lot of DC characters, mainly the Bat Family and anyone who ties in to the Bat Family. I, along with every other comic-reading female in the world, am obsessed with Batgirl of Burnside. This run is brilliant for many reasons, one being that it has pulled me out of my Marvel haze and inspired me to catch up on the New 52 Bat Family storylines. Unfortunately this is really hard. I’ve borrowed some Batgirl, Batman, and Nightwing trade paperbacks from friends (which I’ve added to the small stack of related trades I own) but there are still so many gaps. I want to know every detail, see every tie in, and follow each step my favourite characters have taken since the reboot. But I don’t want to add another box full of books to my “stuff I’d have to move (or sell or donate or something) if I just picked up and moved to London right now”. I realize you can buy digital titles from many online distributors, but the cost adds up. The annual cost of Marvel Unlimited is equivalent to only 35 digital issues… I think I read than many last week!

Dear DC,
I realize you want to make money… I know that this is the main goal of any company. But you are losing my viewership (and interest and fangirl-like madness) by not being user-friendly, like your main competitor Marvel. And with the success of Marvel movies (Captain America: Civil War is killing it and don’t even get me started on Deadpool), especially when compared to the Sad Ben Affleck meme-inducing Batman v. Superman (?Hello Darkness My Old Friend…?), can you really afford to alienate fans anymore? (We actually did this comparison in our post Who Did it Better – Captain America: Civil War or Batman v. Superman?) Especially fringe fans like me (an avid, but not die-hard comic fan) or the rest of the My Fangirl Life Team (the type of comic fans who read the books I give them to read)? Where is the DC version of Marvel Unlimited???

Love & Luck,
Kris

Dear DC, Where is the DC version of Marvel Unlimited? was last modified: May 13th, 2016 by Kris Padget

Last weekend was the first comic con for our team in 7 months. Naturally post-con discussions always include what’s next. The next con. The next costume. And even better, the next group costume! We have established a stellar cosplay crew, so costume selection has an extra dimension. Can we find a fandom that everyone is interested in? And one that has characters that appeal to each of our distinctly different personalities? Conveniently Star Wars seems like it could fit the bill. First, who doesn’t love Star Wars? Seriously… if someone in your group doesn’t you should consider icing them out until they either change their mind or fade into friendship obscurity. And there is a wide variety of people/aliens/heroes/villains so everyone can be satisfied with their new persona.

Whether you use it for picking a solo cosplay creation or to plan out a group deal, here is a convenient breakdown of who some of your typical cosplay personalities should pick for their next Star Wars cosplay:

The One Who’s Made of Money

We all know those cosplayers; the ones who seem too have an unlimited supply of funds. They buy all of the official merchandise and end up with perfectly commissioned costumes (because they would never sink to the level of piecing together that one-of-a-kind creation out of hot glue and sheer will). These cosplays are more about the wearing than the making. There’s nothing wrong with this approach; it ends up looking perfect.Typical Cosplay Choices: Iron Man, Sauron

Star Wars Cosplay Character: Stormtrooper

The One With a Hero Complex

We all have friends who are so pure of heart that they can’t cosplay anything but the ultimate hero. And let’s be serious, there’s no way they could pull off being bad anyways. If you are or you know one of these shining knights make sure to embrace their charming chivalry and help them find their next fandom-saving costume.Typical Cosplay Choices: Link, Captain America, Harry Potter

Star Wars Cosplay Character: Luke Skywalker (or any random Jedi)

The Princess

For some people the main appeal of cosplay is the chance to dress up like you live in an era long past, one where ladies wore gowns and dresses that we now mainly associate with Disney Princesses. The hair-curled/make-up-perfect princess in your crew is not satisfied with a group cosplay unless she can undertake a new sewing project that includes at least one of a hoop skirt, corset top, or bustle.Typical Cosplay Choices: Belle, Zelda, Margaery Tyrell

Star Wars Cosplay Character: Queen Amidala

The One Who is Too Cute to Handle

Some people are just adorable. There’s nothing else too it. Sometimes these people are also children. Either way, it’s important to make full use of the cutest member of your crew; the Awwwww Factor gets attention.Typical Cosplay Choices: Totoro, Tinkerbell, Anything Done by Anyone Under the Age of 10

Star Wars Cosplay Character: BB-8

The One Who Shows All of the Skin

You know who you are… the ladies who love the sexy aspect of cosplay. It’s a chance to let your inhibitions go and wear something you typically never would (or maybe you would all of the time if you could… I don’t judge). Star Wars has possibly the most iconic character for this member of your Star Wars cosplay crew.Typical Cosplay Choices: Poison Ivy, Mystique, Jessica Rabbit

Star Wars Cosplay Character: Slave Leia

The Badass Who Can’t Hide It

It’s hard to be a Disney Princess when you are such a badass that it can’t be contained. You need to be able to move. You need to be doing. You need a weapon in you hand. The badassery flows off you in waves.Typical Cosplay Choices: Arya, Black Widow, Katniss

Star Wars Cosplay Character: Rey

The Bro Who Kind of Wants to Throw Together a Costume

Every group has a bro… not just cosplay crews but any group in general in life. The cool guy. Or a chick with so much chill that she inherits the bro name despite being female. This is the person to cast as your rogue. The flirt. The ladies man with all the charm… but who is also all the trouble.Typical Cosplay Choices: Star-Lord, Archer, Han Solo (…oh…wait…)

Another month over and done… man does time fly! We are full-swing in spring (right down to the occasional hot days mixed in with the occasional threats of snow storms) and it makes me want to go outside, drink fun drinks, and be active… those things balance out, right? Our team had a busy month, although not in an entirely blog-ish way. Read on for the scoop on our April 2016!

FEATURES & MEDIA

Here are all the places we were featured this month, both online and off. Be sure to check them out! If you are interested in working with us in any way, please drop us an email at myfangirllifeblog@gmail.com.

In the Works – With Calgary Expo this weekend we have lots of fun stuff in the works for the next month… make sure you stay tuned!

Oh Hey Draco! – Ok so this isn’t exactly a feature, but look who KG & Justine ran in to in a bar!!! Yes, that is Tom Felton!

UPDATES

Here’s what is new on our blog this month. This is where we can welcome new people to the team, announce new content that you can look forward to, let you know what fun events we attended this month, and just generally tell you anything we feel you should know!

Travel/Work/Events – If you are a dedicated fan (and therefore one of our favourite people in the whole world) you may have noticed we were a bit lighter on content this month. Justine & I went on a 3 week trip, KG had a major event to plan, and we were all crazed with all of the things we had to get done. It meant the blog suffered a bit, but a new plan was born out of the madness…

New Post Schedule – We’ve worked through our post calendar and decided to start a new weekly structure. Starting in May 2016 you can now find new content on My Fangirl Life everyWednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Come back each week on these days for a brand new post from a member of our team. And as a bonus, on top of these three days you can find series posts on their own days: Marvel Mondays will have Marvel Recaps (when the various shows are running). Bachelor Tuesdays are for Tuesday Walk of Shame (starting with the new season of The Bachelorette at the end of May). Thursdays will have its very own series in the summer (shhh it’s still a secret). And Saturdays will sometimes feature guest posts & contributions from different friends of the team. Hurray!

Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo – Justine & KG hit Calgary Expo this weekend for some super nerdy fun! There will be content coming soon about all of their adventures, but here’s a little preview:

Instagram – We’re having fun on Instagram, but don’t have too many friends yet. Head over to @myfangirllifeblog and follow us?

New Series – We teased a new series in our March 2016 Review for this summer, and I’m going to do it again here in the April 2016 version. Stay tuned for something fun & sporty! (After enough teaser months you’ll be able to put together all our little hints ?)

THINGS WE ❤️

Read on for all the things we’re loving this month. Anything is fair game!

Pinterest Search: “Cubicle Decor” – I’m in the process of moving desks at work and am determined to spice up my space. It’s amazing the ideas people have come up with to turn their work “prison cell” into a a lovely, productive space!

Crafting Sessions – If you are a cosplayer I know you understand the pre-con crunch. Suddenly you have only 2 weeks and only 3 half-finished costumes that need to be perfected. We had so much fun gathering together and powering through sewing, gluing, painting, and various other weird & creative activities. The three of us love to work on our costumes together but this month we recruited other friends to join in on work sessions and it just added to the fun! Friends don’t let friends stress-craft alone.

What did you get up to last month? Let us know in the comments!

Love & Luck,
Kris & the My Fangirl Life Team

Month in Review: April 2016 was last modified: May 1st, 2016 by Kris Padget

I love reading. The characters, stories, and other lands… it’s a type of escape that also exercises your brain & the power of your imagination. I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and it has always come with important decisions. When I was a kid I was faced with the choice of reading to myself or badgering my sister/mom to read to me. As I grew the choice morphed into picture books versus chapter books. Then YA versus books actually meant for real-adult-people. Then there are the options of fiction vs non-fiction, romance vs mystery, fantasy vs sic-fi… or, as it often is in my world, books with dragons, magic, or sword fights vs everything else. But a timely debate that comes up often when discussing modern reading is the choice of Books vs eBooks.

It’s a modern day dilemma that seems age-old in nature: Is new really better than old? Should we use something just because it’s more advanced? Is technology really making our lives better? If you came here looking for a clear and decisive decision, well you’re going to be disappointed. The truth is that in the debate of books vs ebooks I sit on somewhat middle ground.

If you are forcing me to pick one side and one side only I would generally pick Books. To me there is nothing greater than an actual book in your hands. The feel of the sturdy cover. The rustle of the pages. The smell of the paper. The atmosphere it creates. Curled up on a comfy chair (or in bed or by a campfire or on a hammock or basically anywhere else in the world) with a blanket and a hot beverage (or cold… you know, if that hammock is in a warm location); it’s moments like that which make life perfect & magical. This is why I am a member of my local library. Let’s be honest, I’m not made of money but I want to be able to touch a copy of every book I want to read.

The world isn’t perfect so we have to be aware of the disadvantages of each as well. Books take up space. I only had room for one in my carry-on of the trip I’m currently on… vs ebooks, where I have multiple on my single iPad (which can also be used for other things like music, games, and photo editing!).

eBooks have their advantages too. They don’t smell like old studies, carved with wood & stocked with scotch, but they do offer a convenience you can’t argue with. With a click of a button I can have the book in my hands without leaving the house (and I hate leaving my house). I can actually have a whole stack of books, yet they take up no more room (except memory on my iPad, but that’s never full anyways).

But then there’s the question of screen time. Between tvs, computers, and smart phones don’t we spend enough time absorbing that blue-light into our eyes? Especially before bed, it seems nice to give our eyes a break and tear ourselves away from screens.

What do you think? Weigh in on the books vs ebooks debate! Are you Team Books or Team eBooks? Let us know in the comments!

It’s Wrestlemania weekend! Woot! Time for some intensive, bone-crushing, soap-opera-style drama! For wrestling fans this is their big day – their Superbowl / World Series / Stanley Cup Finals / Daytona 500. Or should I say “our” big day, because we are wrestling fans. It snuck up on us, our love of WWE, but we are now a part of the fandom. On Thursday I presented you, our lovely readers, with 5 Reasons Why Every Fangirl Should Watch Wrestlemania 32, including points like showmanship, storylines, and hunks. But what I didn’t tell you was who to cheer for…

Of course I don’t want to directly tell you who is good and who is not; that is obviously a matter of opinion. But I also know that sporting events are WAY more fun when I’m invested in them, and I don’t get invested until I have someone to throw my support behind. So I am here to present you with some options – an array of wrestlers you could consider supporting. And to help you decide I have organized them by who we, the My Fangirl Life Team, cheer for. Below you will find one of our typical Our Favourite Things Venn diagrams feature each of our favourite wrestlers.

In the interest of full disclosure I’m going to give you the low-down on how informed each of our choices are:

Justine – The “I Guess I’ll Watch The Pay-Per-Views With You” Fan – Justine’s wrestling knowledge is based entirely on what the rest of us feed her and she mainly watches for the social aspect of hanging out with her best friends. This is her first Wrestlemania.

Kris & KG – The New (Yet Typical Obsessive Fangirl) Fans – KG & I only watched our first WWE PPV event in January this year. We only started watching Monday Night RAW in February. We didn’t delve into the world of Smackdown until early March. We are hardly long-running, years-of-background fans… yet we are fangirls, so you know we take this foray into a new fandom seriously. While watching PPVs we make sure to quiz Johnny Rico for all of the backstory and when anyone new shows up on Raw/Smackdown we Google them immediately so as to not miss out on any potential feuds or bromances. This is our first Wrestlemania.

Johnny Rico – The Long-Time “Real” Fan – Johnny Rico has been watching wrestling since he was 6 years old. He is a wealth of WWE knowledge. He watches all of the PPVs, Raw, and Smackdown almost religiously. If you need any more convincing that he’s the expert check out his Wrestling with Shame series that he continues to write for this blog (despite it being underappreciated by our viewing audience). This is his ?th Wrestlemania (he’s not sure).

I know what you’re thinking: “Why would I ever want to watch wrestling? I am a fangirl; I have discerning tastes. I know what I like and I can almost guarantee wrestling isn’t it”. I hear you… not long ago, when Johnny Rico tried to convince us to watch our first WWE pay-per-view with him, I went through a similar thought process. I didn’t think I’d like it; after all, I was into fandoms, not senseless violence. What I didn’t know was that WWE is just another fandom. Sure there is physical fighting mixed in, but it also has all of the elements that originally drew me into any other of my favourite fandoms. When you check out the examples below try to argue that the storylines aren’t as good as anything you’d see on your favourite CW show or in the next teen fiction novel you pick up.

1. Backstory

I know what you are thinking: “I don’t want to spend my Sunday evening watching two men beat the crap out of each other. Yawn”. Yes, if you watch Wrestlemania you will see two (or more) people fighting, but this isn’t UFC. The fighting is hardly the best part… for a fangirl at least. The joy in watching wrestling lies in the plot. Each wrestler has a persona and that character has a story littered with friends & enemies. It has performed team-ups and has a history. A history that can date back years, even decades. It can precede that wrestler’s time in WWE and reach back through the NXT Series (the WWE’s minor leagues) and beyond.

For example, Sami Zayn – who you will likely see as a challenger in the Intercontinental Title match – just made his Raw debut (aka first appearance on WWE Monday Night’s Raw show) on March 7th. This means he’s only been a full-fledged member of the WWE big leagues for a month, yet he still has a story to tell. In the NXT Series he frequently battled Neville & Kevin Owens (the current Intercontinental Champ) and has plenty of baggage regarding past betrayal by Owens. Oh, and he’s also managed to pick a fight with The Miz already… You’ll likely see all of these characters face off in a ladders match for the Intercontinental Title (yes, that is a match where they have to climb ladders to grab the coveted belt).

2. Friendships, Romances & Feuds

But backstory alone isn’t enough. You can sit down and read the Wikipedia page of any athlete and know their own personal “backstory”. It is within these backstories and how they impact the match-ups of today that the magic happens. Because wrestler’s histories aren’t contained… they are messy and overlap with all of their competitors in some way. Sometimes one of the WWE stars falls for one of the Divas and love is in the air. This will inevitably turn into a love triangle and drama will ensue. Or perhaps two wrestlers will face each other multiple times, swapping wins back & forth (like happened early this year with Chris Jericho (aka Y2J) and AJ Styles). The feud is undeniable… that is, until they form an unlikely team-up to defeat a bigger enemy (and Y2AJ was born). But the beautiful friendship will be short-lived because tag teams don’t last forever (and Y2J betrays AJ Styles because of his overwhelming popularity).

But maybe you want a Wrestlemania-centric example; luckily the Divas match is perfect. Becky Lynch & Charlotte were best friends, inseparable… until Charlotte won the Divas title. Suddenly the new champ didn’t have time for her old friend. She became a right bitch to poor Becky. So Becky went out and made a new friend: Sasha Banks. Sasha & Becky had a chilly history but, after a few tag team team-ups, they bonded. That is until Charlotte informed the pair that one of them would face her for her title at Wrestlemania. Suddenly the new friends were facing off against each other for a chance to take on the Champ. Due to shenanigans by Charlotte (and her ancient, annoying father) there was never a winner crowned between Becky & Sasha and a three-way Triple Threat match will take place at Wrestlemania. Can any of the friendships survive?

3. But we mainly just want to see Bromances

Fangirls love a good bromance. Sherlock’s Holmes & Watson. Supernatural’s Sam & Dean. The Bachelor’s Clint & JJ. WWE has bromances to offer as well! Sometimes they’re fleeting (like the aforementioned Y2AJ) but sometimes they are long-standing, intense, and beautiful. What is more special than the love between a guy and his bro?

The bromance-to-end-all-bromances in the WWE right now is with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. They entered the WWE spotlight as part of a three-man tag team called The Shield (along with the currently injured Seth Rollins). The Shield is no longer together (as I said before, tag teams can’t last forever) but the friendship remains. These two are often featured on other WWE shows together, just hanging out & being besties. When Dean Ambrose was smashed through the windshield of a limo by Brock Lesner in the opening of one week’s Raw we were comforted to see Roman Reigns on the phone with the hospital later in the episode, checking on his bro’s condition.

Roman Reigns will be challenging the current Heavyweight Champion of the World, Triple H, for his title in the main event of Wrestlemania 32. Dean has also been making moves towards the greatest of all titles over the past month, hoping to defeat Triple H and get to headline Wrestlemania for the first time. Instead he will be facing off with Brock Lesner (yeah, the guy who put him through a windshield… rivalries are strong in this fandom) in a no-holds-barred street fight. We’re still not sure how this year’s WWE premiere event will affect our fav bromance, but I am sure it will come into play somehow.

4. Heroes & Villains

Who you cheer for is wholly personal in any contest/sporting event/shipping war/etc. It’s no different in wrestling…however, no story is complete without a cast of heroes and villains. Rivalries can’t just be between the best of friends; you also need to have “the good guys” and “the bad guys”. There’s nothing saying you have to cheer for the heroes though (like how I have a soft spot for Hans when I watch Frozen). Yet sometimes everyone seems to unite behind one character; a character that can do no wrong and makes the crowd cheer uproariously whenever they appear. Those are the special heroes, who sometimes can be “villains” in the story line… or heroes to the people but resistant to authority (much as people love might Robin Hood).

The perfect Hero vs Villain storyline at Wrestlemania 32 will be the ‘Hell in a Cell’ match between Shane McMahon and The Undertaker. Shane is the son of WWE Commissioner Vince McMahon, but has been estranged for years. He has returned to the spotlight and challenged his father for the rights to run WWE Raw. Vince has promised that if Shane can win his Wrestlemania match he can have the coveted Monday Night show. Seems fair right? Wrong. He has set up a near-impossible challenge for his boy: a Hell in a Cell fight (aka cage match) against The Undertaker (aka the hugest, scariest, looks-like-a-gravedigger-from-hell-iest opponent). The complexity in the story comes from the fact that Vince is technically a Hero, being as he runs the WWE, but everyone hates him, making him the Villain for the fans. Shane, on the other hand, is challenging authority, so he is the technical Villain. But he was also always a fan favourite when he wrestled, due to the death-defying stunts he used to pull, making him the fans’ Hero. We’ll have to wait & see what Raw’s fate will be!

5. Hunks

Is there anything a fangirl loves more than a hunk? They inspire us to watch an entire 11 season tv show or sit through a 3 hour movie we otherwise couldn’t have cared less for. They inspire fanfiction and artwork, both innocent and graphic. They fuel the manic fangirl energy we live on. And WWE has plenty of hunks, most of which you will see at Wrestlemania 32. Don’t believe me? Rather than give a list of examples, here is photographic proof:

Do I have you convinced? Will you be tuning in to Wrestlemania 32 this weekend? Let me know in the comments below … or, if you are already a WWE fan, add to the list with your own selling points!

Welcome to my weekly blog series: Tuesday Walk of Shame. Here I hang my head low as I admit to having watched the previous night’s episode of The Bachelor / Bachelorette / Bachelor In Paradise (or whatever the newest spin-off happens to be) and provide my own personal commentary. I’ll tell you what I loved. I’ll tell you what I hated. And most importantly, I’ll tell you what I would have done differently.

Have you heard of the 5 Love Languages? It’s a theory that there are 5 ways in which people express & like to receive love. The tricky thing is that you tend to show love in the ways that you like to get love, which isn’t necessarily the way your partner (or loved ones in general) want to receive love. Hence the reason it’s important to know your Love Languages & those of the people you love. On this season of The Bachelor JoJo made a comment that made me think about how difficult it would be to comply with all of the Love Languages on this series. To see how you’d fare on the show take the quiz at 5lovelanguages.com to see which of the 5 languages are important to you.

Words of Affirmation

This is the language that JoJo brought up in regards to her relationship with Bachelor Ben last season. She literally used the term “Words of Affirmation”; she must know her love languages. But what are Words of Affirmation? These are the things you say – the ‘I love you’s, the sweet nothings, the compliments. Sure the Bachelor(ette) can’t say ‘I Love You’ back (not that the rule stopped Bachelor Ben from saying it to two women) but words of affirmation are abound on these shows. The contestants are constantly told how beautiful they are. They are told how smart and kind and vulnerable they are. And the Bachelor(ette) is showered with praise centring around “I’m so glad it’s you”s and “you’re my dream come trues”s.

Acts of Service

Acts of Service include the little things someone does for the person they love. It’s not buying presents or saying kind things, but the small acts that are performed unasked & unprompted. It’s going home and realizing the dishes have already been done! It’s also going on a special date – perhaps getting this week’s one-on-one. It’s being pulled aside first at the cocktail party or going to a special, secluded, rooftop spot where you can make out. If you pretend the Producers don’t make all of the plans and that everything comes from the brain of the Bachelor(ette) then Acts of Service are constantly being dished out.

Receiving Gifts

I think the definition of Receiving Gifts is pretty clear, but it’s important to clarify that these don’t have to be diamond ring/new car level gifts. Small things count too! The Bachelor(ette) is pretty low in its Gifts score. Maybe one girl a season will get a dress or necklace on something which they’ll get to keep after a princess-style date. And the occasional Bachelor will create a small present to show a woman he cares, like Ben and his hair clips for Amanda’s kids or the photo he had printed of him & Lauren. But most Bachelors aren’t Ben and you will rarely experience the Receiving Gifts love language on these shows. Unless you count a rose each week…

Quality Time

Quality Time is one-on-one time spent together. It is dates and activities, but also sitting around in comfortable silence… and it’s a complicated language on The Bachelor. Quality Time is a commodity that you judge your relationship by, your connection with the Bachelor(ette), even if you this isn’t one of your highest rated love languages. One-on-one date. One-on-one time during a group date. Being the first to talk to your Prince Charming/Perfect Princess during a cocktail party.

Physical Touch

Physical Touch is, again, exactly what you would expect. It is make out sessions, hugs, and high fives. It’s a pat on the back, a hand on your elbow, or a kiss on the top of a head. And physical touch is another of the love languages that is in no shortage on The Bachelor. I wasn’t even phased by how many women Bachelor Ben made out with this season. And yet, at the same time, a contestant spends a lot of time away from their Bachelor(ette). Group Dates are spent with 5 other suitors between you. You need to be good with short bursts of physical contact, then long dry spells.

I personally have quite a high rating for Words of Affirmation & Acts of Service, followed by Quality Time, while my Receiving Gifts score is very low and my Physical Touch rating is almost non-existent (I don’t like to be touched…). So maybe I’d be alright with the whole Bachelor scenario?

Until next week (because Tuesday Walk of Shame will keep going strong until the next episode)…
Love & Luck,
Kris

? Rain Drops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens… Confirmed Canon Stories and OTPs Smitten… the Happiness that a New Fandom Brings… these are a few of our Favourite Things! ? … Is that not how the song goes? Well it should be, because our favourite things are so much more interesting than kettles & wild geese. We are into heroes & villains, star-crossed lovers & tales of bromance, epic quests & stories of success… and boy bands. And, of course, StrongFemale Characters!

With March being home of International Women’s Day, I have really been thinking about the female role models in my life. I have looked at the women of my family and all that they do to show love & offer support. I think of the ladies I work with who I can only dream of one day being as poised & professional as. And I naturally look at the media I am constantly bombarded with to see which fictional females I hold in high esteem. With all of the talk of strong female characters in movies, tv, etc you can’t help but search through the women of pop culture and examine what makes them worth emulating.

I enlisted a few of my fellow fangirls to make a Venn of our favourite female characters from television, movies, books, comics, etc. We wrote out a whole list then worked through to find the defining feature that makes them a role model. Is it their brain? Their kindness? Of course, a well-written character will have many facets to their personality but here is a look at who we admire most & why we most want to be like them:

Loving

Love is a powerful thing; it’s cheesy & clichéd but it’s true. We admire the ability of these characters to love others so much that they would do anything for them. I’m not just talking romantic love but the general, unconditional love you feel for someone important to you. Katniss doesn’t volunteer for the Hunger Games because she is brave & sure of victory; she does it because she loves her little sister so much that she can’t stand the idea of her getting hurt. Tessa makes all of her choices based on what is best for her entire adopted family at the London Institute (including, but not limited to, Will & Jem… the men that she loves). Summer & Hermione both exhibit loyalty so fierce that you know their capacity to love is worth emulating. And Dany’s heart goes out to each and every living thing that she meets, making her role as leader all the more difficult.

Brave

Blindly walking into danger isn’t something we would respect. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear. What makes all of these fictional ladies so compelling is that they feel fear yet fight through it. Dany is terrified by every choice she makes but she bravely tells herself to not look back… “If I look back then I am lost”. Buffy is constantly haunted by both real and imagined horrors. While we respect her ability to take out a vampire without even breaking a sweat, her ability to push through pain is why we actually think of her as a role model. All of these ladies do not shy away from danger, but not because they don’t recognize it. They are brave enough to continue even when they are afraid.

Confident

The My Fangirl Life team thinks confidence is key… after all, our motto is “You Do You”. We love a strong female character that is not afraid to be herself. Eowyn & Alanna both exude enough confidence that, in time periods where women are to have babies & cook dinner, they convincingly pull off acting as a man would. Similarly, Allison Argent doesn’t leave the fighting to the men. She puts aside fear and believes in her ability to get the job done. Elizabeth Bennet (in any incarnation of her you choose) will not let anyone change her. She knows who she is and what she likes and will not bow to the will of a man. And Izzy, after multiple novels of showing only her “most confident exterior”, learns to be confident enough to show her vulnerable side.

Intelligent

Intelligence is an important trait for us. We want to see women in positions that decades ago would only have belonged to men, like Felicity who is a woman specializing in STEM subjects. We love women who thirst for knowledge, like Lizzie Bennet. Or ones who are already the smartest one of the group (yet are always willing to share their smarts with others), like Hermione. And we want to see females coming up with the solutions, and exercising their creative problem-solving skills, like the most recent companion Clara Oswald.

We still can’t get over how amazing Rey is. She embodies all of these traits so astutely that there was no doubt that she had to be the center piece of our Venn. Loving, despite being left alone as a child. Intelligent, full of creative solutions. Brave, willing to risk herself in pursuit of a greater goal. And Confident, so freaking confident that she wields a lightsaber like she was born with it in her hands. We want more Rey! (And more characters like Rey)

My name is Kris and I love comic books. Exciting stories filled with dynamic characters told through excellent writing and artistic imagery… comic books are an exceptional form of art. Of course, as a kid I originally got into them because “there were pictures”… then I came to appreciate how badass the characters typically are… and finally today I see the whole rounded view of what a comic has to offer. Including a feminist viewpoint. My name is Kris and I love girl power comics. Lately I’ve found myself obsessed with stories with a strong feminine viewpoint and am inspired to share. So here is our February High Five: Girl Power Comics!

1. Ms. Marvel

This is an easy place to start. The newest run of Ms. Marvel has been praised time & time again for its alternative look at a female superhero. Kamala Khan is not your typical ‘Girl in Tights’; on the contrary, she is so very normal that any fangirl will instantly relate. Yes, she gets grounded by her parents when she sneaks out or stays out too late on a school night (if only they knew she was saving the world!) …but it’s so much more than that. She writes Avengers fanfics. She ships Spider-Marvel, aka Spider-Man and the old Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers). She insists on taking selfies with any new heroes she meets. She does exactly what I’d do in her shoes. Basically she is me. Basically she is all of us.

Plus, in addition to being a strong young woman, the new Ms. Marvel also represents a different race & religion. As a Muslim teen she is faced with unique problems which illuminate some of the challenges & some of the beauty of her faith and strengthens the already strong sense of humanity in her character.

2. Lumberjanes

Another obvious go-to here as far as girl power comics go; Lumberjanes is a feminist’s dream. It is full of strong female characters that are also spunky, smart, fun, and all-around real. It wears a feminism badge of honor yet does so in a brilliant way. It doesn’t preach at you; instead it presents females who you can hold as role models… hilarious, quirky role models.

Structured as a Field Manual for a girl’s Hardcore Lady Types’ camp, these comics are unique and entertaining. Don’t be off-put by the fact that you can find them shelved in the 9-12 ‘Young Readers’ section… also be encouraged by it. Give this book to your daughter/niece/cousins/child you randomly know somehow (be it a girl or boy – it’s obviously very empowering for young ladies but I think boys might enjoy it too). And while you’re picking up that gift, also grab a copy for yourself. You are just as likely to fall in love with April, Molly, Mal, Ripley, Jen, & Rosie!

3. DC Bombshells

DC Bombshells might not seem like an obvious choice based on the name, or even the cover art. If you are lobbying for the end of sexualized female superheroes, this is definitely not the series for you. However, imagine a world when we don’t need male superheroes. Ok, I know that we don’t have ANY superheroes, but imagine a fictional, comic book universe that doesn’t need men to save them. In DC Bombshells we are thrown back to the Second World War and the ladies of DC are the first ones to join the front line. Sure they look like perfect pin-ups, but they are also bravely defending their nation.

I understand the problem with creating unmatchable standards of beauty, but perhaps we can try to take something else away from these books. I consider this as part of my “girl power comics” because of the characters themselves. They are strong (fighting on the front lines), they are smart (devising battle strategy), and they are written & illustrated with true femininity (coming from having a mainly female creative team).

4. Batgirl of Burnside

I feel like Batgirl of Burnside was written specifically for me. First of all, Batgirl is an all-time favourite of mine. She’s the main reason I ever give DC a chance (her and Robin/Nightwing). The art is a style I really respond it with comics… kind of punchy and full of vibrant colors & dark shadows. And everything, and I mean everything, about this version of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon/Gotham is soooo hipster! Coffee shops, indie bands, dating apps, and selfies. The creators of this new Batgirl series know their target audience and they are laying it on thick while pandering to them… but in the BEST way!

But aside from the hipster references, the characters are wonderful. Barbara is strong and capable, yet often confused and unsure. So very relatable for anyone her age (anyone my age). The confidence exhibited by herself and the strong women she surrounds herself with is inspiration indeed.

5. Helena Rose: In Intergalactic Fairytale

Helena Rose is one of a collection of comics I was given the chance to check out at the end of last year by Emet Comics. Emet Comics is an amazing publishing company where all of their comics are written & illustrated by women. Talk about girl power comics! Their content is varied, with art styles and storylines to fit any reader’s preference, but all with a unifying theme of female empowerment.

Helena Rose specifically caught my eye for 3 reasons: (1) “An Intergalactic Fairytale” – Obviously I am in to that. Who wouldn’t be? (2) It’s a break from superheroes. 3 of the 4 other comics on this list are superhero tales, and that’s not for everyone. Sometimes you want to read about other characters with problems that don’t include supervillains bent on world domination. The storyline (this isn’t a spoiler – It’s the description on the back of the comic) “An alien prodigy must embark on an adventure through space to find a cure for her terminal illness.” (3) The artwork! Helena Rose is gorgeous! Each page looks like a perfect sketch filled in with watercolors. I want to frame it on my wall. Seriously, this one is worth checking out purely for the illustration.

What girl power comics are you reading? Let me know in the comments below… because I am always up for a new series to check out!!!

Love & Luck,
Kris

March High Five: Girl Power Comics was last modified: March 25th, 2016 by Kris Padget

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